Thill-coupling.



R. COATES.

THILL COUPLING.

APPLIOATION FILED 001211, 191:9.'

969,937, Patented Sept. 13, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

'IL 'lll/1,1114

R. COATES.

THILL GOUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED ooT.11, 1909.

969,937. Patented Sept. 13, 1910.

2 SHEETS-*SHEET 2.

Syvum/Lto@ (l NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RAYMOND COATES, OF JACKSON, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF T0 JOHN H.

v ANTIS, 0F JACKSON, MICHIGAN.

TI-IIIiL-COUPLING.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RAYMOND CoA'rEs, a citizen of the United States,residing at Jackson, in the county of Jackson and State of Michigan,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Thill- Couplings;and I do declare the :following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in thill couplings.

One object of the invention is to provide a thill coupling theconstruction of which provides for the quick and easy connection anddisconnection of the parts whereby the thills are readily attached to orremoved from the vehicle.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved constructionand arrangement of dust guard whereby dust and other foreign matter willbe prevented from entering the coupling.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists ofcertain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement ofparts, as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out inthe appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure l is a vertical cross sectionthrough the axle of a vehicle showing the coupling applied thereto, thecoupling being shown in side elevation. Fig. 2 is a verticallongitudinal section of the coupling showing the end of a thill engagedtherewith and in operative position. F ig. 3 is a similar view showingthe thill in position to be removed from the coupling. Fig. 4 is a topplan view of the coupling with the parts as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig.5 is a vertical cross section taken on a line with the coupling pin orbolt. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the coupling head. Fig. 7is a plan view of the blank from which the spring dust guard is formed.Fig. 8 is a side view of the coupling illustrating amodified form of thedust guard and showing in full lines the position of the parts when thethill is in oper- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 11, 1909.

Patented Sept. 13, 1910.

serial No. 522,021.

ative position and in dotted lines the position of the parts when thethill is raised to permit the removal or disengagement thereof from thecoupling. Fig. 9 is a plan View of the blank from which the guard shownin Fig. 8 is formed.

Referring more particularly to the drawings 1 denot the axle member ofthe coupling, said member comprising a base plate2 which is adapted tobe secured to the front aXle of a vehicle by means of a clip 3 in theusual or any suitable manner. On the outer end of the base plate 2 isformed a substantially cylindrical head 4 in which is formed a centrallydisposed recess or socket 5. In the forward side of the head 4 is formeda slot 6 which communicates with the socket 5 in the center of the headas shown. In the opposite ends of the head are formed apertures 7 toreceive the ends of the coupling bolt or shaft 8. In the base plate 2immediately in rear of the head 4 is formed a slot 9, the purpose ofwhich will be hereinafter described.

The coupling bolt or shaft 8 may be in the form of a straightcylindrical bolt having its opposite ends tted into the apertures 7 inthe ends of the heads sufficiently tight to prevent the casual removalof the bolt or said bolt may be constructed as herein shown, havingenlarged cylindrical ends 10 and a reduced central portion 11. Thenconstructed in this manner the bolt is held in place in the head 4 bymeans of the connecting portion of the thill coupling member which isengaged with the reduced central portion of the bolt and thus prevents alateral movement of the latter in the head.

The thill member of the coupling comprises a bar l2 the outer portion ofwhich is curved or shaped to fit the inner ends of the thill to whichthe same is bolted or secured in any suitable manner. On the free end ofthe member 12 is formed a hookshaped head 13, which is adapted to beinserted through the slot 6 and into the socket 5 and engaged with thebolt 8 as clearly shown in the drawing. Secured in the socket 5 by arivet 14 or other suitable fasteninfr device is a Hat metal spring 15,the free en of which bears against the outer face of the hook-shapedinner end of the thill iron 12 and holds said end in firm engagementwith the bolt 8 (see Fig. 2) and takes up all lost motion occasioned bythe wearing of the parts and thus prevents the rattling and theconsequent noise of the parts of the coupling and when the thills aredrawn up into raised inoperative position said spring bears against theouter face of the free end of the hook 13, and holds the thills up.

Adapted to be engaged with the head 4 of the coupling and to passthrough the slot 9 therein is a dust guard 16 which is here shown and ispreferably in the form of a spring metal band which when engaged withthe head snugly fits the same but turns thereon with the movement of thethill member of the coupling. The upper portion 17 of the band is ofgreater width than the under portion 18, thus effectively covering theslotted portion of the head. On the oppositev edges of the part 17 ofthe band are formed ears 19 which engage the opposite sides of the headand hold the band in place. The dust guard band does not extend entirelyaround the head 4, thus leaving a space between the ends of the band topermit the insertion and removal of the thill member of the coupling.The ends of the band are preferably bent outwardly and form guideflanges 2O to facilitate the engagement of the thill member of thecoupling.

In Figs. 8 and 9 of the drawing is shown a modified form of dust guardband 21. The band 21 is provided on the opposite edges of its enlargedportion with laterally projecting inwardly bent lugs or ears 22 whichare of considerably greater length than the ears 19 shown in the otherfigures of the drawing. The ears or lugs 22 are of suflicient length toreach the center of the head 4 and in the end of said ears are formedbearing apertures 28 which are engaged with studs 24 formed on the endsof the coupling bolt. By constructing the bearing lugs or ears 22 asshown in Figs. 8 and 9 of the drawing the guard band is securely held inposition and in close engagement with the head and is readily turnedthereon by the movement of the thill member of the coupling when thelatter is brought to operative and inoperative positions.

By means of a thill coupling constructed as herein shown and describedthe thill members thereof may be readily engaged with or disengaged fromthe axle members without the use of any tools or the removal of anybolts. The engagement of the spring 15 with the thill member of thecoupling takes up all wear and lost motion and prevents noise fromthemovement of the parts and the dust guard band effectually preventsthe entrance of dust or foreign matter into the bearing portion of thecoupling thereby greatly prolonging the wearing qualities of the same.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, the construction and operation of the invention will bereadily understood without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion and the minor details ofconstruction may be resorted to without departing from the principle orsacrificing any of the. advantages of the invention, as defined in theappended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a thill coupling an axle member comprising a base plate having ahollow head at one end provided with a rounded outer face, a boltextending longitudinally through said head, said head having a recess inone face thereof, and said base plate having a transversely arrangedslot adjacent said head, a curved plate spring arranged within said headbelow said bolt and having its inner end fixed to said head and its freeend terminating adjacent thev lower wall of said recess, a substantiallycylindrical dust guard encircling said head with its ends spaced apart,said guard being mounted for longitudinal movement within said slot anda thill member having a hook shaped head for insertion through therecess in said head and adapted to engage the bolt thereof, the springon said axle member head bearing on said hook shaped head to hold ityieldably in position.

2. In a thill coupling, an axle member comprising a base plate having ahollow head at one end provided with a rounded outer face, a boltextending longitudinally through said head, said head having a recess inone face and said base plate having a transversely arrange-d slotadjacent said head, a curved plate spring secured at one end to theinner face of said head and having its free end arranged below saidbolt, a split ring-shaped dust guard extending through the slot in saidbase plate and encircling said head, said guard being provided with astop for limiting its longitudinal movement and `a thill member having ahook shaped head for insertion through the recess in said axle memberand adapted to engage the bolt thereof.

In a thill coupling, an axle member comprising a base plate having ahollovxT head at one end provided with a rounded outer face, a boltextending longitudinally through said head, said head having a recess inone face and said base plate having a transversely arranged slotadjacent said head, a curved plate spring secured at one end to theinner face of said head having its free end arranged below said bolt, asplit ring-shaped dust guard extending through the slot in said baseplate and encircling said head, said guard having lateral eXtensions forengaging the base plate to limit its longitudinal movement and a thillmember having means for engaging the bolt Within the head of the axlemember.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand 1n presence of twosubserlblng witnesses.

RAYMOND COATES. Witnesses:

Il.. N. THOMPSON, \V. E. llonm Nimm.

